Mansfield Police charge pair from Hackettstown in connection with shoplifting from Walmart store

MANSFIELD TWP. — A 20-year-old Hackettstown resident, Erik Mitchell, was charged on Thursday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m. in connection with shoplifting a cell phone and camera from the Walmart store.

Police said Mitchell allegedly removed a cell phone from a locked security rack, removed the phone from it's packaging, and concealed the phone on his person before leaving the store on May 24 without paying.

During the investigation, police learned that Mitchell had been in the store on May 19 and had stolen an instant camera, police said. He returned the camera for store credit on May 24 just prior to shoplifting the phone, police said.

Carlos Bonilla, 18, also of Hackettstown accompanied Mitchell to the store on both dates, authorities said.

Mitchell was charged with two counts of shoplifting, two counts of conspiracy, criminal mischief and theft by deception, police said, and Bonilla was charged with two counts of conspiracy.